The Cottage

 The Cottage
The Hayes Theater
August 11, 2023 

Photo courtesy of The Cottage

The Cottage is just the light, raucous, whimsical sex farce Broadway audiences need to see right now.  It is packed with improbable situations that deliver laughs and culminate in unpredictable predicaments.  Director Jason Alexander has done a stupendous job at polishing the style, rhythm, and timing in playwright Sandy Rustin’s hysterical writing, delivering a polished must-see production.

Laura Bell Bundy & Eric McCormack
Photo courtesy of The Cottage

For the past seven years, Beau (played by Eric McCormack) and Sylvia (played by Laura Bell Bundy) have been meeting once a year, to enjoy a sordid night of wild sex at Beau’s family cottage in the English Countryside.  Sylvia has decided it’s time to come clean.  She sends both her husband, Clarke (played by Alex Moffat), and Beau’s wife, Marjorie (played by Lilli Cooper), telegrams, confessing her love for Beau and their desire to be together.  Beau does not share this deep sentiment, and is not too happy when both Marjorie, who is eight months pregnant, and Clarke, who happen to be his younger brother, show up at the cottage.  Marjorie confesses that she and Clarke have been carrying on a love affair for the past seven years, and the baby she’s carrying belongs to Clarke.  Just as things are about to settle, Beau’s lover, Dierdre (played by Dana Steingold), arrives to tell him she has gotten a divorce from her husband, Robert (played by Nehal Joshi), and he is heading to the cottage to kill Beau. 

Photo courtesy of The Cottage 

That’s just the first Act.  Act II is full of twists and turns and unexpected surprises, as the couples try to make sense of their dilemmas and fulfill their emotional needs.  Playwright Sandy Rustin leaves no stone unturned and boldly delivers on every detail she sets up throughout the story.

The cast is over the top.  Their characters are distinct, and their chemistry is remarkable.  Eric McCormack is sophisticated and self-important as Beau, which plays amazingly well against  Laura Bell Bundy’s daring and sassy Sylvia.  Alex Moffat’s physical timing is perfection, which balances Lilli Cooper’s pushy and elegant portrayal of Marjorie.  Dana Steingold is cunning and perky as Dierdre, which contrasts with Nehal Joshi’s Richard, who is dark and mysterious.  Each character is driven by excessive neediness, which keeps the humor running at an impeccable pace. 

If you need a laugh, this is the show to see.  The production is beautifully designed by Paul Tate dePoo III (set), Sydney Maresca (costumes), and Jiyoun Chang (lighting).   The Cottage is playing at the Hayes Theater.  Don’t miss it!

Domenick Danza

POTUS

 POTUS
Shubert Theatre
May 26, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Potus

POTUS is a raucous and sidesplitting look at the behind the scenes happening at the White House.  Playwright Selina Fillinger has written an over the top script filled with funny lines, physical comedy, truthful characters, and a hilarious premise.  Director Susan Stroman works this cast of brilliant performers into a frenzy.  The action rises as the stress builds and the laughter culminates to a one line ending that says it all.

During an international meeting, the President of the United States makes a sexist and derogatory remark about his wife, Margaret (played by Vanessa Williams).  Harriet, the President’s Chief of Staff (played by Julie White), and his Press Secretary, Jean (played by Suzy Nakamura), are frantically figuring out how to spin it.  Stephanie, the President’s secretary (played by Rachel Dratch), is trying to prevent Margaret from seeing the president and making the situation worse.  Meanwhile, it is discovered that the president had an affair with a young, blond woman, Dusty (played by Julianne Hough), who is now pregnant with his child.  Harriet invited her to the White House to quiet the incident.  In addition, the President pardoned his sister, Bernadette (played by Lea Delaria), who was serving a prison sentence for international drug dealing.  When a reporter (played by Lilli Cooper), is interviewing the First Lady, she overhears and records the conversations where all this dirty laundry is aired.  Mayhem ensues, as Jean takes Margaret’s phone containing the recordings, and an accident takes place that could put all their necks on the chopping block. 

Julie White & Suzy Nakamura
Photo courtesy of Potus

The fast pace and high energy of the show is set in the opening scene between Julie White and Suzy
Nakamura.  These two skilled actors successfully light the fuse, and everything accelerates from there.  The set, designed by Beowolf Boritt, is on a turn table that quickly spins to reveal various rooms in the White House.  This allows for immediate changes, seamless transitions, and a continual build in the pace and comic timing. 

The Full Cast
Photo courtesy of Potus

The cast is phenomenal.  Julie White is full of vim and vigor.  She is a powerhouse.  Suzy Nakamura is enthralling.  Her character is constantly throwing obstacles, forcing the action to rise.  Vanessa Williams is aggressive and domineering.  Her portrayal of the First Lady is multi-layered and frighteningly truthful.  Rachel Dratch creates a character full of insecurity and very different from the others.  She makes the most out of every moment she is on stage.  Julianne Hough is perky and innocent as the President’s mistress.  She jumps right into the mix of powerful women, and rises to the challenge.  Lea Delaria is a grounding force.  Her character is full of surprises, carrying a bag of tricks on her shoulder from which she pulls out every imaginable prop needed for each sticky situation. 

As funny as this play is, it packs a thoughtful and provocative wallop at the end.  Go see it!  It is everything you could imagine from this magnificent cast. 

Domenick Danza

Tootsie

Tootsie

Marquis Theatre

April 19, 2019

Photo courtesy of Tootsie

Out of all the movies being made into Broadway musicals lately, I was most excited about seeing Tootsie.  There is so much possibility in the original movie for musical interpretation, and the creative team took every one of these potential jumping off point to the max.  David Yazbek’s score is unique and character driven.  His lyrics start off as sharp and funny, then dive deep into the soul of the characters.  The book, written by Robert Horn, is witty and intelligent.  They set the show in present day and use every possible opportunity for social commentary.  Scott Ellis’ direction is spot on, and yes, Santino Fontana is beyond fabulous in the title role.

Photo courtesy of Tootsie

Actor, Michael Dorsey (played by Santino Fontana) cannot get a job in New York City theatre.  His arrogance has generated more professional enemies than work connections.  His best friend and roommate, Jeff Slater (played by Andy Grotelueschen), reminds him on his 40^th birthday of the goals he has yet to achieve.  After coaching his ex-girlfriend, Sandy Lester (played by Sarah Stiles), for an audition of a new musical, Juliet’s Curse, a re-telling of Rome & Juliet, he decides he might stand a chance at getting an acting job if he auditions as someone else.  He creates an alter-ego, Dorothy Michaels, and lands the role of the nurse.  He channels his talent, ego, and ingenuity through his new persona and achieves the professional success he always knew he could, yet his personal life hits a few bumps.  He falls in love with his co-star, Julie Nichols (played by Lilli Cooper), while another cast member, heart throb Max Van Horn (played by John Behlmann), becomes enamored with him.  Michael finds himself trapped under a pile of lies and deceit.  He turns to the wisdom of his alter-ego for a solution.  

The cast of Tootsie
Photo courtesy of Tootsie

You can’t take your eyes off Santino Fontana.  He flips from Michael to Dorothy in an instant.  His vocal characterization is brilliantly matched by his unqualified physicalization, which combine to create a robust portrayal.  The determination of his character drives the action of the show.  The comic timing between him and Andy Grotelueschen is impeccable.  This establishes and builds their relationship.  Sandy Stiles is dynamite, delivering laughs and genuine neurotic moments.  Lilli Cooper delivers song after song of sincere perfection. 

Tootsie is playing at the Marquis Theatre.  It is sure to be a big hit.  Get your tickets right away and prepare for a fun night at the theatre.

Domenick Danza